Lamp for producing illuminated motion effects



June 9, 1931 v F. GRITT I 1,809,164

' D M TI Filed Nov. 28; 1950 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oi-Pics FRANK GM, 01 ASSIGNOB '1'0 GBI'IT, INC., 01

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION: OF INDIANA Application filed November 28, 1980. Serial No. 498,780.

This invention relates to devices for producing illusory motion effects in illumination b means of a reflector arranged to reflect uctuating light rays produced by a I lamp and a movable screen. In this type of device the illusory motion effects are usuall produced by reflecting the fluctuating lig t ra s through a light permeable panel arrange adjacent the p1ctor1al or other rep- 10 resentation of the object which is to appear as stationary.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a device of this kind wherein the representation of the stationary ob ects inllcludes sculptured features so as to appear in relief; to provide an improved form of housing for the lamp and screen; to provide improved means in the houslng for removably supporting the light permeable 80 panel; to provide improved means for removably supporting the reflector within the housing; to provide improved means for securing the housing to the back of the sculptured part; and to provide a device of this kind which is particularly adapted for use as an ornamental lamp for household puroses.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawin s, wherein:

iigure 1 is a front elevation of an 1mproved lamp.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section,

taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 with the hood removed.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the reflector.

In the construction shown, the improved lamp comprises a sculptured part 1, representing the objects which are to appear as stationary, and a translucent panel 2 upon which an illusory representation of a moving object is produced by the improved means within a sheet metal housing 3.

The sculptured part 1 may be any desired design. In the form illustrated, it represents an Indian chief standing beside a stone altar upon which a fire has been built. The sculptured part 1 may be a sheet metal stamping but in the form shown in the drawings it is made of a plastic composition, the sur ace of which is suitably ainted.

The panel 2 is preferably made of glass and is located directly behind the sculptured part so that, when fluctuating light rays are projected upon the panel, flames and smoke a-p ear to rise from the altar. In order to he1 hten the effect, holes 4 are formed in the scu ptured part on top of the altar so that when the light is visible through these holes it gives the appearance of fire between the logs. The panel 2 is preferably painted on one side so as to bear a skeletonized representation of the flames and smoke.

In the form shown, the sheet metal housing 3 includes a front plate 5, which supports a base 6 and a substantially semi-cylindrical rear wall 7.

Struck out from the f ront plate 5, are lugs 8 which are embedded in the sculptured part i to anchor the housing to the sculpture. Rigidly securedto the front plate adjacent its upper edge, is a clip 9 forming a seat for the panel 2. Lugs 10 project rearwardly from the plate 5 and are bent around the edges of the rear wall 7 Mounted on the base 6, is a socket 11, which supports an incandescent lamp 12 controlled by a switch 13 mounted on the side of the housing. Frictionall secured to the lamp, is a shield 14 arrange to prevent the light rays from passing directly from i the lamp to the panel 2. A pin 15 is mounted on top of the shield for rotatably supporting a cylindrical screen 16 adapted to be driven by the rising air. In order to insure a free flow of air through the housing, inlet openings 17 areformed in the rear wall 7 adjacent the base. a

The fluctuating light from the lamp is reflected upon the panel 2 by means of an arcuate distorted reflector 18, which is removably secured to the rear wall 7 by means of lugs 19 struck inwardly from the rear wall at the upper portion thereof. The face of the reflector is suitably designed so that the light reflected thereby will produce the representation of flames.

Supported on the upper rim of the rear wall is a hood 20 having an open front adjacent the translucent panel 2. The peak of the hood is recessed, as shown at 21 so as to provide an outlet for the rising air which drives the rotatable screen.

In 0 eration, the reflector 18 reflects the intermittent light rays upwardly and forwardly through the panel 2 so as to produce the illusory representation of fire and smoke rising from the altar. When the device is viewed from a position in front of the lamp, the sculpture and motion eflects present a very realistic picture which compels attention.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be varied -without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims I claim:

1. A device for producing illuminated motion effects comprising a housing, a sculptured representation of a stationary object adjacent said housing, a light permeable anel adjacent said sculpture, means in said liousing for producing a fluctuating light, and a reflector in said housing adapted to re fleet the light rays upon said panel to produce an illusory representation of a moving object in complementary visible relation to said sculpture.

2. A device for producing illuminated motion eflects comprising a housing, a sculptured representation of a stationary object on said housing, a translucent panel mounted adjacent said sculpture and bearing a skeletonized representation of a moving ob ject in complementary visible relation to said sculpture, means in said housin for producing a fluctuating light, and a re ector mounted in said housing for reflecting the light rays forwardly through said panel to e ect illusory motion.

3. A lamp for producing illuminated motion effects comprising a housing", a sculptured representation of a stationary object on the front of said housing, lugs extending forwardly from said housing and embedded in said sculpture, a vertical translucent panel behind said sculpture, means in said housing for producing a fluctuating light, and a reflector in said housing adapted to reflect the light rays forwardly through said panel to produce an illusory representation of a moving object in complementary visible relation to said sculpture.

4. A lamp for producing illuminated motion effects comprising a sheet metal housing having a front wall bearing the representation of a stationary object, a clip on said front wall, a translucent panel removably seated in said clip, means in said housing for producing a fluctuating light, In struck inwardly from the rear wall of sai housing, and a removable reflector seated in said removable hood seated on the upper edgeof said rear Wall and having an open front ad acent said panel, means in said housing for producing a fluctuating light, and a curved reflector detachably secured to said,-

rear wall for reflecting the light rays through said panel to produce an illusory representation of a moving object.

Signed at Indianapolis this 24th day of Nov., 1930.

FRANK GRITT.

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